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The Heart of the Driftless

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James Ole Davidson

Soldiers Grove Heritage

James Ole Davidson

Wisconsin’s 21st governor came from Soldiers Grove. James Ole Davidson was born in Norway in 1854 and immigrated to the U.S. in when he was 18 years old. He came to Soldiers Grove in 1877, started a successful mercantile business, and served two terms as village president. A Republican, he served as state assemblyman from 1893 to 1898. He rose rapidly in the ranks, serving as state treasurer from 1899 to 1903, and as lieutenant governor as the running mate of Robert M. La Follette. Re-elected in 1904, he served in this position until La Follette resigned the governorship to take a seat in the U.S. Senate, making Davidson acting governor. In 1908 he was re-nominated without opposition and served until January 1911. He died in 1922 and is buried in Madison.